Modi involved in Haren Pandya's murder, alleges Uma Bharati

Ahmedabad, Nov 1 (UNI) Bharatiya Jan Shakti Party (BJSP) president Uma Bharati today alleged that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi might be involved in the murder of former state Home Minister Haren Pandya for his political gains.

Talking to mediapersons here, Ms Bharati said, ''Mr Modi could be behind the murder of Pandya as the terrorist groups would not have made him a target to avenge the post-Godhra riots because he was then neither the Home Minister nor in power.'' She further alleged that his (Pandya) murder could be conspired by Mr Modi as he was a real challenge to the latter because of his dynamic personality, which could have clouded Mr Modi's political future. Thus, it is necessary that mystery of Pandya's murder must be solved and smoke must be cleared to bring out the real culprits to give justice to Pandya's family, mainly his father Vithhal Pandya and wife Jagrui, who are fighting for justice.

Without uttering a word on the political rivalry between Mr Modi and Pandya which turned friends into foes, she asked ''Who else has benefited due to Pandya's murder?'' UNI